Back-to-school must have! Lip Balms from Good Earth Beauty Exclusives are sure pleasers [Review & Giveaway]

Lip Balms from Good Earth Beauty Exclusives. Featuring Bubble Gum, Pink Lemonade, and Strawberry - perfect for back-to-school!

Girls of all ages are headed off to school. Girls of all ages love a little lip care products. Girls of all ages love the delectable flavors that Good Earth Beauty has whipped up in its line of natural lip balms.

Hey Mom! What are you tucking away inside those backpacks? Inside that little pocket?

I highly recommend you explore the Good Earth Beauty Exclusives line of Lip Balms for your kid's backpack or purse or suitcase surprise.

Be sure you get several. They last a long time but she'll want to have one in her backpack, one in her purse, one on her desk - minimally!

Your check list.....

✔ Backpack
✔ Gym Bag
✔ Music bag
✔ Locker
✔ Home desk 

Look at these lovelies.

Good Earth Beauty Exclusives takes the care of your smile seriously and they make it fun.

The "littlest ones" to the oldest will absolutely love the Good Earth Beauty Exclusives Vegan Lip Balms and happily slather it on to protect those lovely smiles.

And you can't miss with these features.....

• Vegan
• Gluten free
• All natural
• Non Gmo
• Paraben free

Today we're featuring 3 lovely new flavors in their plethora of lip care.....

💜Strawberry Margarita
💙Pink lemonade
💗Bubble Gum

Mild flavored and lightly scented and just simply packed with those oils and ingredients that soften and protect your smiles.

LIP BALM NATURAL VEGAN (Best Seller) 

Vegan - natural -  soothing and moisturizing - helps heal chapped lips

Choose from fun, original scents - Candy Hearts, Bubble Gum, Coconut, Candy cane mint, chocolate mint, Pink Lemonade, vanilla mint, vanilla marshmallow, jelly beans, candy corn or pumpkin pie, Strawberry Margarita! Made by Good Earth Beauty Price $6.25 each Click here to find it

Ingredients: Meadowfoam oil, olive oil, avocado butter, candellia wax, vitamin E, natural flavor oil

You don't have to wait to see if you win the giveaway. You can order your own products and GoodEarthBeauty.com  offers a nice DISCOUNT  CODE - SUMMER10 which nets you 10% discount. And as always, FREE SHIPPING in USA.

Get several and put them in the kid's backpacks!

GIVEAWAY
2 Winners - 3 Featured Lip Balms Each
Begins August 16

Ends September 20 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by Good Earth Beauty or its publicist.

Weird But True! USA: 300 Fascinating Facts About the Fifty States (Nat'l Geo Kids) [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  This little book is a real jumble of quirky information. Just the sort of "facts" that middle school kids love. Odd stuff. Tickle the brain stuff that really doesn't have a whole lot of value in the scheme of things. But, still it's a fun book.

Kind of like a book of jokes in its value...... it occupies the mind, it fills time gaps when the readers are bored, it doesn't require organizational or mind bending energy. It is just a fun read. A fun bit of information. A simple good-to-have-on-hand type of book.

There is an alphabetized index at the back. Example: I'm from North Carolina and I wanted to see just what this little book has on our lovely state. I see that on pages 45, 56-57, and 168 there are some little known facts:

• Page 45 - A mile long island recently formed off the coast of the Outer Banks. (This one really surprised me as I hadn't heard about this. I will research this tidbit a bit further.)
• Pages 56-57 - The largest private home in America - The Biltmore Mansion. (I knew this and have actually visited.) 
• Page 168 - Thousands of corn chip bags once washed ashore on North Carolina's Outer Banks. (I hadn't heard this and this is absolutely terrible! The Outer Banks are an absolutely beautiful Atlantic Coast treasure.)

So you can find information that pertains to a specific area of the United States, or simply read through the book garnering Weird But True information about the USA. Fun!

About the book: (National Geographic Kids Books, ages 8-12, $8.99)

Filled with wacky wonders, facts, stats, tidbits, and trivia about America's 50 states and territories, Weird But True! USA is great for avid and reluctant readers alike, ideally sized as a grab-and-go book to read in the back seat and also makes for a fun travel companion for the family road trip.
 

Did you know that there is a floating post office in Michigan? Or that a library book checked out by George Washington was returned to a New York City library 221 years late? Maybe you'd be amazed to discover that the ink used to print U.S. paper money is magnetic? Perhaps a visit to Oregon's Great Salt Lick contest will be added to the vacation plans, where visitors can view unique sculptures (ie blocks of salt licked by cows and sheep)  and see which work of art wins! 

Read about all kinds of bizarre people, places, events, and things that make their state — and our country — great.

GIVEAWAY

Begins August 15

Ends September 15 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.

Fire Storm (Kaely Quinn Profiler #2) by Nancy Mehl

ISBN: 9780764231858
Bethany House
Paperback $15.99

My thoughts:  Having met FBI Profiler Kaely Quinn in Mind Games (#1 in Kaely Quinn FI Profiler series) created by author, Nancy Mehl, it was nice to read of her mental strategy to profile and work through the mind boggling atrocities that have befallen a small town in Nebraska.

Her own personal life and family connections are severely strained and convoluted; but faced with her mother's fight against cancer, she tries to overcome past hurts and disappointments to meet the needs of family.

Fire Storm while a good stand-alone read, would be better enjoyed and understood if the reader has first read book #1 in the series, Mind Games.

The author's talent for fleshing out her characters and balancing descriptions and dialogue allows for a thoroughly engaging suspense read. The realist development of emotionally or mentally flawed characters gives the reader a glimpse into the world of the criminal mind or the mind that evil has gained control.

This is good clean, Christian fiction that is not overly heavy with preaching or theology. Just good clean reading about believable individuals in a flawed world.

I highly recommend this series.

About the book: FBI Profiler Kaely Quinn visits Nebraska to care for her ailing mother. She cant help but notice suspicious connections among a series of local fires, so she calls on her partner, Noah Hunter, to help find the arsonist. Together they unwittingly embark on a twisted path to a mad man who is determined his last heinous act will be Kaelys death.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.

Delightful picture books for ages 2-5: "Firefly Home" and "The Pawed Piper" [Review & Giveaway]

Firefly Home by Jane Clarke and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup, Hardcover ISBN: 9781536205879, Nosy Crow, Ages 2-5

My thoughts:  The colors used by the illustrator certainly depict the nights during which a Firefly emits its glow.

This little Firefly is lost from its home and is wandering all around, chasing lights of all sorts, to find its way back home and to its own kind.

A bit far fetched, but fun to read. Truly I don't know if Fireflies are drawn to lights other than the light of another Firefly. It seems a bit far fetched, but makes for a fun read.

Ultimately, little Firefly finds its way home.

I love the bright yellow against the blues and purples of the night skies the illustrator has drawn. The drawings are a bit whimsical, but fun and the Firefly has big, bulging "bug eyes."

A fun read.

About the book: There’s no place like home. But poor Florence Firefly is lost, and there are so many bright lights shining in the night sky that she doesn’t know which way to go. She’ll need some help to find her way back home. In this clever interactive picture book, readers can participate in Florence’s journey by encouraging her to fly faster, suggesting which direction to take, and making a wish.

The Pawed Piper by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Chinlun Lee,  Hardcover ISBN: 9781536201659,  Candlewick Press, Ages 2-5

My thoughts:  This is such a sweet book about a caring child and kitties. I think this perfect for the home that has children and that adores kittens and cats. Beware, if you don't have a kitty and have a sweet child and if you bring this adorable book into your home, you may soon be on the receiving end of having a new kitty in your home.

This little girl plans to lure kitties into her home by various means and does so with the help of her granny's cat, Hector. In the end she discovers that all the lured cats belong to others and seeks to return them. But happily, she finds one has remained behind to be hers, forever.

Cute book.

About the book: Calling all kittens! A little girl longing for a pet of her own gets a bit more than she bargained for in this cat-filled celebration.

A small girl wants a cat of her very own: a furry fluffball to cuddle, just like the one in her book or her grandmother’s cat, Hector. So she lays a trail: balls of wool, saucers of milk, cardboard boxes, and anything else that could lure a feline friend. And who should arrive the next morning but somebody furry, warm, soft, and so very purry. It’s Hector, along with dozens of other cats. The girl is happy as can be, but when “LOST CAT” posters show up all over town, she realizes her plan might have worked a little too well. Will she have to give all the cats back? Will she ever get a cat of her own to love? Sweet and playful, Michelle Robinson’s tale of wish fulfillment will strike a chord with anyone who has ever yearned for a pet, while Chinlun Lee’s exuberantly illustrated felines will delight cat lovers of all ages.

GIVEAWAY

2 Winners Receive Both Books

August 11-September 10 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA/CANADA addresses only.

NO P.O. Boxes, please.

(Canada winners must provide Phone Number)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of the books reviewed to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' prize copies are provided and mailed directly to the winners by publisher or publicist.

Shea Terra MONGONGO BANANA Lip Savior & SHEA NILOTIK East African Shea Butter Body Cream featured at Good Earth Beauty online natural beauty shop [Review & Giveaway USA]

Shea Nilotica East African Cold Pressed Virgin Shea Butter Certified Organic

I am very particular about what I use to soften or moisturize my skin - whether it is my face, my hands, my feet, or simply all-body moisturizers. First of all, I don't like "sticky" and secondly, I don't care for those that leave an oily residue that transfers onto whatever you touch.

So finding a heavy duty moisturizer can sometimes be trial and error and somewhat daunting.

Often the "body creams" are just too heavy to wear here in the Southern United States, especially during the summer. After all, you don't want to feel like you've been oiled and ready to fry in our heat.

So imagine my surprise upon discovering the Shea Terra Banana Body Cream to be heavy duty, rich, all-body moisturizer that WORKS and is NOT......

• sticky
• greasy
• heavy (translates to "hot" here in South)

This is lovely stuff. Really buttery, smooth, good feeling, rich, and gently scented. I think most anyone would love this.

Product Information: (Find it here) 100% pure and natural, certified organic Rich in pro vitamin A and vitamin E. Skin healing and anti-aging properties. Creamy and easy to spread. Why pay too much for beauty creams and anti-aging products that don't work? If you're sick of the struggle, switch to Shea Terras nilotica shea butter to see amazing skin benefits. This East African shea butter is a totally raw, unrefined shea butter naturally full of pro vitamin A and vitamin E, which help heal and nourish your skin. Shea Nilotica East African Shea Butter is especially great for those softer skin areas, such as your cuticles and under your eyes. As with all our products, our natural shea butter is great for hair as well as skin, so get yours today! *Our products are made with natural and organic ingredients to treat your hair and skin well. However, keep in mind that results may vary!

Ingredients: Contains only: 100% pure, USDA Certified Organic Shea Nilotik’ Shea Butter

How to use (from SheaTerra): Use daily to maintain beautiful, soft skin.

• Face: Massage small amounts of butter into facial skin and under eyes. No other cream or oil is needed. Shea Nilotica can be used as itself for daily facial care.
• Body: Massage into areas such as arms, thighs, abdomen, etc. Not recommended for harder spots such as hands, knees, feet and elbows. For these areas we recommend Shea Gold or Shea Organic.

MONGONGO BANANA Lip Savior

And then I have lips that just love to crack and peel. A real annoyance. And this happens all year long, no matter what the weather. They just crack and peel.

So I have found that certain lip balms made with natural (and hopefully, organic) ingredients really are helpful.

Shea Terra has a little jar of lovely lip balm. A slight "banana" taste or scent makes for a yummy experience. Just rub your fingertips across the top of the product and then apply to your lips.

This is a sure pleaser. The tight fitting, screw on lid helps maintain freshness.

Product information: (Find it here) 100% Natural. Take your lip treatment to the highest level. A balm might be a good cover-up, but a LIP SAVIOR saves them. One of the first parts of the body to become dehydrated are the lips. What ensues are painful cracks, unsightly, peeling skin, and unattractive, wrinkled lips. But never fear. Your LIP SAVIOR is here. Packed with a synergy of healing ingredients, our LIP SAVIORS helps nourish lips into health. Lips can be fuller, more supple and more beautiful with only a few uses. Scroll down to see our amazing ingredients and to read more.

Ingredients: Contains only: Nilotik’ shea butter, wild mongongo oil, Ugandan beeswax (from beekeeping project), cold pressed chamomile oil, cold pressed calendula oil, natural vitamin E, natural banana flavor, seabuckthorn oil, stevia.

You don't have to wait to see if you win the giveaway. You can order your own products and GoodEarthBeauty.com  offers a nice DISCOUNT  CODE - SKINCARE10 which nets you 10% discount. And .......  as always, FREE SHIPPING in USA.

GIVEAWAY

Shea Terra Body Cream

Begins August 4

Ends September 3 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA only

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary products to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and given only after I have personally used the products. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by  GoodEarthBeauty.com or it's publicist.

Treasure the moments

A treasured picture of my recently deceased brother at one of my grandsons’ wedding. 

Treasure the moments. They are gone in but a twinkle. 

Little ones books about science: "Caterpillar to Butterfly" and "Caterpillar & Bean: A First Science Storybook" [Review & Giveaway]

The World around us is one great big universal science lab. Your kiddies should be introduced to the science of this world in all its beauty and glory. They should begin early to engage mentally, visually, and physically with the science of the World.

Let's start with caterpillars and let our kiddies have fun while learning.

Caterpillar to Butterfly: Fold Out and Find Out by Frances Barry (Novelty Book ISBN: 9780763642617)

My thoughts:  Candlewick Press' novelty board book brings very young children the world of the developing caterpillar and the plant world in which it grows and exists until it is finally freed to fly away as a lovely butterfly.

This shaped book has a sturdy cover and the pages inside unfurl into a "flower" taking the developing caterpillar from petal to petal on a journey populated with wonderful insects and flowers.

A fun, entertaining, educational book to enchant youngsters.

I recommend.

About the book: How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? Open out the petal-shaped pages, one by one, and watch a transformation unfold.

First there’s a tiny egg on a leaf, then a caterpillar hatching, just big enough to see. Look at the caterpillar munching away, growing and shedding layers of skin so it can grow some more. Follow as it spins a thread into a green and golden chrysalis, hanging in the sun. Are you ready to see a glorious transformation when all the page turns are done? Cleverly leading readers through each stage of the caterpillar’s life cycle, Caterpillar to Butterfly is sure to set curiosity into flight.

Caterpillar and Bean: A First Science Storybook by Martin Jenkins. illustrated by Hannah Tolson (ISBN: 9781536201703)

My thoughts: The simply told story of a bean seed and a caterpillar and the life cycle of each has bright, colorful illustrations to engage the child visually and mentally. The story also shows subtly how caterpillar and bean interact in nature. Simple illustrations portray the bean as it sprouts and grows bursting from the skin on the bean, pushing roots out, and developing leaves and the butterfly  through its various developmental stages from egg deposited on the leaf to butterfly emerging from the chrysalis.

What I found interesting, too, is that the author and artist convey the caterpillar's need for the bean plant. Also, the bean plant's ability to grow new leaves after the caterpillar eats lots of leaves.

The depiction of the life cycle of the two - insect and plant is very well done and quite educational for the young reader or listener.

I recommend.

About the book: Observe the ways plants and insects interact in a gentle introduction to growing for budding scientists.

What’s that wedged in a crack in the ground, small and hard and wrinkly and brown? A bean seed! Soon it develops roots and leaves. And what’s that on the leaf? An egg! The egg hatches a caterpillar, and the caterpillar eats the leaves, getting bigger and bigger until it forms a chrysalis. Meanwhile, the plant is growing, too: it develops flowers, then bean pods, as it reaches up toward the sun. Side by side, plant and insect grow . . . and grow . . . and grow throughout the year, until they come full circle. This fourth book in the First Science Storybook series uses simple, clear language and colorful illustrations to inspire very young readers as they learn about life cycles.

GIVEAWAY

2 books for 2 winners

Begins Aug. 3

Ends August 31 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA and CANADA addresses.

NO P.O. BOXES, PLEASE

(Canada winners must provide phone #)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of the reviewed books to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone, and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by Candlewick.